The older I get, the more I realize that ninety percent of life is about choices. Similarly, both the choice to be happy or unhappy is totally up to the individual. Sure, unforeseeable circumstances come along and rattle our cages from time to time but how we chose to let them affect us is our choice. We can resolve to allow the situations to defeat us or we can simply count it all joy and keep on going.

Counting it all joy is not basically grinning through a rough circumstance. It’s much more. When we count it all joy, we recognize and seek God’s hand in the midst of the quandary. We accept the fact that whatever happens in our lives is somehow working out for our good. Trust me, as someone who has buried most all my immediate family, I understand how difficult it can be to remain optimistic. As I update this article, I am recovering from the sudden death of a sibling (the second one in three years). So, I do indeed understand pain and grief, but I also understand the wonderful peace that comes from my faith and my decision to continue on with my life.

Let’s be frank. Happiness is not always going to “find” you. Therefore, you’ve got to passionately, intentionally, seek, chase and pursue it on your own in spite of your present circumstances. As you well know, there will always be people, systems and personalities trying to rob you of your joy and purpose. But once you find your joy, it’s up to you to not to let it escape – even in the midst of turmoil and unimaginable pain.

Whether you are recovering from heartbreak, grief or coming to terms with a recent disappointment, resolve to preserve your joy in spite of it all. Don’t succumb to the innate urge to fold up into a ball and withdraw from the world. As a single mom, I know this is not an option for me, nor is it for you. Our children, loved ones and friends need us to be strong, resilient and at peace. So, choose to embrace your faith and rely on God to comfort you and bring peace while He restores your emotional equilibrium. Discover fresh interests by trying new things, meeting new people, reading some new books or even trying a new hobby.

Again, choose to be happy, joyful and content at this very moment in your life. Take solace in knowing that your current position doesn’t predict your potential. You’re on your way someplace wonderful! Make your plans, map your goals and continue on your happy, fun- filled course! Choose to be happy, today!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Teri Worten is a freelance writer and the founder of the inspirational website for women and single moms called Gotta Be Me, Girl.Com. Visit Gotta Be Me Girl at http://www.gottabemegirl.com and http://www.teriworten.com. She has been featured on various television and radio shows as well as numerous publications in the metropolitan Kansas City area. Her passion is motivating and inspiring other women to reach their fullest potential.

“A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it”. (Jean De La Fontaine)Many people go through life searching for meaning and purpose. Some people don’t think about anything other than what they are doing today, while other folks do nothing but dream. The question that many find hard to answer is, how does what I do today tie into my dreams and destiny? When we get caught up in the toils of everyday life, we often find that our awareness is clouded by daily activities. Perhaps it’s hard to see how what we do can have greater meaning and purpose in life, let alone manifest an outstanding destiny. One thing is for sure; deep down we all want our life to mean something.

It seems that some find destiny early in life, while others find it later. Some are caught up in basic need to survive, while others stumble right in to living their dream. Many early successes are seen in the performing arts. I’m sure at their early age, Paul McCartney or John Lennon had no clue that playing music would leave such a rich legacy. The lyrics to the song, “Imagine” craft such a beautiful concept of where we could be in this world. The Beatles, to some, were just a longhaired group of teens strumming guitars. But their destiny, found early in life, has left us with a rich heritage of music with deep meaning.

Others have found their destiny long after they found success. Oprah Winfrey has always wanted her life to mean something. She has a burning desire to be an inspiration to people and to generously share wealth that has been entrusted to her. As part of that, she has created boys and girls clubs in the town she grew up in, because as a little girl she began dreaming of her own possibilities. Likewise, she has created the Oprah Winfrey Foundations. Ms. Winfrey believes that educational opportunities allow for possibilities to grow. She has given a great deal back to the world and yet, it was when her academy for girls opened in Africa that she felt she met her destiny. Oprah says, “All my adult life I have been searching for a way to give back what I’ve been given. It wasn’t until I fell in love with the beauty and the spirit of people in Africa that the act of giving came full circle for me.” (www.oprah.com). By touching one life it will reproduce itself hundreds of times over. What a wonderful gift to the girls and women of Africa. They are given the opportunity to live the possibilities of their lives through their uplifting and the education they will receive.

Another example of how inspiration meets destiny is the story of Jack Canfield, the speaker and author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Jack states so clearly on the documentary movie, The Secret (www.thesecret.tv) that he discovered through his mentor that he was raised with a very negative viewpoint about money and therefore he, too, had such an attitude. Since we attract what we think about, he was not making money and not allowing his passion in life to develop. He was inspired but, by his own thoughts, getting in the way of his destiny.

He learned that whatever a man can conceive, a man can achieve. He decided that he wanted to earn $100,000 in a year. So, thinking he should apply the principle he learned, he created a $100,000 dollar bill and put it over his bed. This way every morning when he awoke and every evening when he retired he would visualize the money coming to him. To some this may seem hokey…but if more people applied the principle, achieving one’s destiny could manifest more quickly.

One day, while showering, Jack had an inspired thought. He determined that if he sold 400,000 books at $.25 each, he would earn $100,000 that year. The problem was, he didn’t know how that would happen. But the idea made sense – inspiration! The next day, while grocery shopping, the National Enquirer magazine jumped out at him. Perhaps he could market it there…after all, it was widely read.

Shortly thereafter he was giving a talk to teachers. After the talk a woman approached him wanting to interview him. She was a freelance writer for the National Enquirer! The article was published and his books sold. He made almost $100,000 that year. His inspiration met his destiny in the sum of all those events. Jack Canfield’s (www.jackcanfield.com) Chicken Soup for the Soul series has inspired millions to understand that life has meaning at a far deeper level than what we often experience day to day. He has helped many come to understand just how we can achieve rich and meaningful lives showered with success.

For me, inspiration and destiny came in an unsuspecting way. Expecting to succeed and manifesting what I wanted never seemed to be hard. I suppose that I was, what some people call, an unconscious competent. That means, I didn’t know how I did what I did, I just did it. Nonetheless, for years I felt that my inspiration and destiny was to create wealth.

Having grown up in the projects, early on I didn’t know what wealth was, but I knew that it had to be better than what I had, and I wanted it. While others living in the projects saw their life as a dead-end street with no future, I saw where I was as a stepping-stone to something far better. I knew I was capable and after college strove to be “somebody”. Achieving success legitimately required effort, but was not hard. Unfortunately, patience was not one of my strong suits. Therefore, in a moment of temptation, I made an unethical choice and stole money from one of my clients. Every choice has a consequence. The moment we make the choice the consequence is set into motion.

The consequence of that first lapse of ethical judgment and other lapses that followed was Federal prison. It was there, that my destiny was formed and my inspiration was found. Having lost everything, I found, through a simple program that allowed select inmates to speak to youth, that my destiny was to use that experience in a way that could help others see the wisdom of making ethical choices.

Today, I speak about choices, the illusion of success and what it means to truly be “somebody”. With the strong push for success that drives corporate America and the need to gain a competitive advantage for our youth, I find that many, both youth and adult, are confused about ethical choices and success. It seems that the two concepts are at odds and many are confused about how to achieve, what I call, “Ethical Success.” As a Sales Executive in a publicly traded company and a keynote speaker, I share programs on issues concerning ethics, the illusion of success, and achieving inspiration and destiny. While my audience is primarily business groups, the Choices Foundation (a non-profit organization) was created to offer the opportunity for youth to hear the same message. Through this organization, I am able to address college and university students, teaching these principles from personal experience. I find this inspiring and my destiny.

For information on the Choices Foundation (a non-profit organization) and the presentations on ethics given by Chuck Gallagher, contact Chuck at chuck@chuckgallagher.com or visit www.chuckgallagher.com.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

On a crisp October day in 1995, Chuck Gallagher took 23 physical steps… opened a door… and began a new experience that was life-changing. Gallagher explores that experience and the success that followed… while involving the reader in ways that could be life-altering for them. Gallagher captures the heart of the audience in an honest way that deals with human emotion. For information on Chuck’s keynotes and workshops go to www.chuckgallagher.com or for a free ezine on Ethical Choices contact Chuck at chuck@chuckgallagher.com.

You become what you think about most of the time. You are successful on the outside in direct proportion to the way you think successfully on the inside.

The degree to which you feel in control of your life will largely determine your level of mental well-being, your peace of mind, your happiness and the quality of your interactions with people. And the only thing in the world over which you have complete control is the content of your conscious mind. If you decide to exert that control and keep your mind on what you want, even when you are surrounded by difficult circumstances, your future potential will be unlimited.

Your aim should be to work on yourself and your thinking until you reach the point where you absolutely, positively believe yourself to be a total winner in anything you sincerely want to accomplish. When you reach the point where you feel unshakable confidence in yourself and your abilities, nothing will be able to stop you.

The first principle is that your thoughts, whatever they are, trigger mental pictures and emotions that then lead to your saying and doing certain things that are consistent with those thoughts.

With regard to success, when you think of what success means to you or think about being a great success in your career, you’ll think about the things you want to achieve and feel the pleasure of achieving them. You’ll talk like a success and begin to take actions that will lead you to the success that you desire. And the starting point is always to think like a winner.

The second principle is a paraphrase of the first principle. It says that your feelings will trigger thoughts and mental pictures that will then lead to your saying and doing certain things consistent with those feelings.

For example, when you feel positive and optimistic, you will smile and be cheerful. You will be more animated and energetic. You will be more enthusiastic and more efficient and effective in the things you do. Your positive feelings will trigger positive responses at all levels, and your world will be a more positive place. You will even attract into your life positive people and positive circumstances that are consistent with your feelings.

Begin today to practice these three key principles of personal power and accomplishment. Continually remind yourself to think, imagine, walk, talk and act like the winner you really are. You will be amazed at the results.

Now, here are three steps you can take immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, practice keeping your thoughts on the things you want and the people you care about, like playing pictures on the screen of your mind.

Second, if you want to feel positive and cheerful, act positively and cheerfully until you get the feeling consistent with your desire.

Third, imagine that you already have the success and happiness you desire. Deliberately create the feeling you would have and hold onto that feeling as long as you can. This will cause things to happen for you in a most remarkable way.

Author’s Bio:

Brian Tracy is the most listened to audio author on personal and business success in the world today. His fast-moving talks and seminars on leadership, sales, managerial effectiveness and business strategy are loaded with powerful, proven ideas and strategies that people can immediately apply to get better results in every area. For more information, please go to www.BrianTracy.com

The quickest way to reach your goal is in a straight line. This article talks about how to avoid the distractions and stay focused on the actions that help us reach our goals.

The quickest way from point A (where you are now) to point B (where you want to be, your goal or dream) is in a straight line.

And the most efficient way to stay on the straight line is to focus your energy, and attention, and to practice a consistent set of actions.

What that means, is you choose thoughts, feelings, and actions that will move you closer to that goal.

Unfortunately, what really happens is we get motivated and start taking action towards our goal and we get side tracked, or the results aren’t quick enough so we lose our momentum. Suddenly our line from point A to point B looks more like Lombard Street in San Francisco, a very crooked one. I think we’ve all spent a lot of time on this crooked road.

For example, if you have a goal to “get in shape” as many of my clients do, that’s a pretty vague goal. A straight line would be to get very clear on the goal and the action steps you need to take in order to achieve it. “I want to lose 5lbs in the next 60 days by eating three healthy meals plus two nutritious snacks everyday as well as 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise, 10 minutes of stretching daily and weight lifting 3 times a week. That’s a pretty clear goal (and it can get even more specific by when, where, what times, etc). …..Many of us however, start to bargain & rationalize with ourselves “Well, I ate really healthy yesterday so I can cheat a little today.” Or “I don’t have time to eat healthy; I have to just grab something quick.” Or “It’s too cold, wet, windy, to exercise.” Well, you get the point. One day we’re following our plan on the straight road, the next day we’ve taken a detour again. 60 days later the goal has not been met.

The same holds true for all our goals, business, personal, financial, family, etc.

So, how do you stay on the straight road? – Clarity-become very clear on what it is you want to achieve. – Action steps- What action steps can you take this week that will move you closer to your goal? (You don’t need to know the whole picture on how you will achieve your goal. Just take the next obvious step.) – Visualization-visualize reaching your goal, how will you feel? What will life be like once you’ve achieved that goal? – Motivation- You shower and brush your teeth everyday, you have to motivate yourself to achieve your goals everyday. – Acknowledgement- Notice what you are doing that is working for you to achieve your goal & give yourself a pat on the back. – Never, Never, Never, Give up!!!

Where in your life are you taking the crooked street towards a goal? What action can you take today to stay on the straight road towards your goal?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

We all have a core desire to Feel Good. So why don’t we feel good more often? When you work with Char you will learn how to break through unresourceful behaviors, & beliefs that prevent you from Feeling Good. Using her expertise as a Nurse Practitioner, Life Coach & Yoga Instructor, & integrating a mind, body, spirit approach, Char empowers her clients to Feel Good every day! Visit http://www.TheFeelGoodCoach.com & start Feeling Good now!

I’m sure you are well aware that spring always follows winter and fall always precedes it. Duh. Not trying to insult you here just to make a simple point that has been true for thousands of years. Seasons come and go at their own pace and there is nothing we can do to slow them down or speed them up or influence their behaviors – they have their own agenda and schedule.

Having said this, you would be amazed at how many people try to rush the seasons of their lives and yes, each life has its four seasons and they come and go often with little regard for our plans, hopes, fears, dreams and desire to control them.

Before I continue let me clarify the quote at the end of this article. Yes, time passes at its own pace and offers its unique lessons to each of us but, this doesn’t mean we should just sit idly by waiting for things to change or improve on their own as time does move from one minute and one day to the next. OK, now that that is out of the way, let me get back to the basis of this message – the seasons of life.

Yes, each of these seasons can have other – both positive and negative circumstances, emotions and outcomes, but each generally has a basic theme that generally defines this period of our lives.

Therefore there are three questions I would ask – what season are you currently in, in your life? How are you handling or managing it and are you effectively preparing for the next season?

What season are you currently in?

The seasons of life come in no particular order unlike nature’s seasons. You can be in winter as a young person as well as when you are a senior citizen. You can experience the joy of summer during your retirement years or you can find this time filled with effort, challenges and relentless problems. Keep in mind that each of us during our life can go through cycles of the four seasons where we move from winter to spring and back to winter. In life, a season can last a few weeks or several years, depending on how we think, act and behave during each season.

Fail to learn the necessary life lessons during a particular season and rest assured, you will find yourself once again facing similar issues or problems again in the future.

The challenge for each of us regardless of the season we find ourselves in at any given moment is to behave in a mature, responsible and positive way. Just because it’s fall and a time of harvesting previous decisions, actions or effort doesn’t mean you should just suit back and bask forever in the sunshine of blessings and success. You might want to consider some actions or decisions that will help you get through the coming winter with less pain and struggle.

If you find yourself in a winter that just won’t seem to end, this might be a time for continuous reflection, introspection and self-evaluation. Or, it could be a time of renewal as you prepare for the effort required during the coming spring and summer.

Regardless of the season you find yourself in at this time, it would be wise to maintain attitudes of growth, maturity, maintaining the right life outlook and recognizing that whatever season you are in is only temporary, is one of the best approaches you can bring to the current season. Just keep thinking – this too shall prepare me (or as many people are fond of saying – this too shall pass).

How are you handling or managing it?

Each season of life requires different decisions, actions and behaviors.

When in spring periods (again – times of growth opportunity and planting seeds) you need discipline, effort, patience and belief. This is a time of waiting and planning. It’s a time for confidence, action and consistency. When your actions and behaviors embrace these mindsets you are setting yourself up for future success in the coming seasons. Without them you will fail to realize the hopes, dreams and results you desired.

When in the summer season (again – times of enjoyment, effort and confidence) it is vital that you maintain vigilance, balance of work and play and patience. Ignoring your spring efforts (of planting seeds etc.) will guarantee that your harvest in the fall will be less than expected or desired. This is a time of blended activities – enjoying the playful summer days and nights while not neglecting your efforts and goals.

When in the fall season (see above definition) it can be easy to just enjoy the fruits of your previous labors and just reap your harvest day after day. But again caution is advised as winter is just around the corner and if you fail to harvest successfully which includes mental and physical preparation for what lies ahead, you may find your winter harder and longer than you can endure. Fall is a time for enjoying as well as preparing for what is around the next corner.

When in the winter season (see above definition) this can be a time of despair, discouragement and a loss of faith and hope. It can test your resolve, patience and self-belief and confidence. During this season it is critical that you keep your mind and eye on what lies ahead (spring) and not bogged down in the dark, long, cold and hard days and nights. During winter it is easy to fall prey to what is happening in the moment, but I caution you – one of the best actions you can take is to strengthen your resolve, understanding and patience for what you are going through knowing that it is just part of the ongoing life process and that before you know it spring will arrive.

Are you preparing for the next season?

Here are a few tips to consider regardless of the season you find yourself in at any given life period.

-Always be reading, learning and growing.
-Make no assumptions.
-Don’t take anything personally.
-Don’t let circumstances determine your behavior.
-Always do your best.
-Turn off outside negative influences.
-Surround yourself with the right people.
-Accept that failure and problems are normal.
-Learn to see failure, disappointment and adversity as learning tools.
-Optimism is a better life approach than pessimism.
-Success and achievements do not define you.
-Life is about relationships and not stuff.
-There is no such thing as security.
-Fear is the number one negative influence that must be managed.
-What you believe defines you.
-Your thoughts become circumstances.
-The past is dead – let it go.
-Trust God every minute of every day.
-Be filled with appreciation and gratitude every day.
-You can’t push the river. Relax.

In summary;

Keep in mind that just because you survive one winter that this doesn’t prevent another winter in the future. Just because you behave appropriately during any season is no guarantee that you will gain the desired benefits of that season. Just because you work hard and plan during spring and summer that you will have a successful harvest in the fall. Life happens and it is our responsibility to learn to flow, strengthen our faith and continue to grow, learning from the circumstances life places on our plates.